Ducks trade Rucchin for Gillies, draft pick

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim parted ways with their captain Tuesday, trading center Steve Rucchin to the New York Rangers for left wing Trevor Gillies and a conditional pick in 2007.

Drafted second overall by Anaheim in the 1994 supplemental
draft, Rucchin served as the Mighty Ducks' captain in 2003-04
following the free-agent departure of Paul Kariya. He posted
his second straight 20-goal season and added 23 assists in 82
games.

"Steve is a player who adds leadership, experience and size at
the center-ice position," Rangers general manager Glen Sather
said. "He has demonstrated over his career to be a versatile
player who plays a solid, two-way game. His competitive nature
will have a positive impact on our young players."

The previous season, Rucchin helped Anaheim to its first Stanley
Cup Finals appearance, recording seven goals and three assists
in 21 playoff games after registering 20 tallies and 58 points
in 82 regular-season contests.

"The Mighty Ducks would like to thank Steve Rucchin for his
efforts and dedication over the last 10 years in Anaheim,"
Mighty Ducks general manager Brian Burke said. "We wish him the
very best of luck with the New York Rangers."

Rucchin, who is slated to make $2.261 million this season, has
appeared in 616 games with the Ducks, collecting 153 goals and
279 assists. The 34-year-old native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, who
scored a career-high 23 goals in 1998-99, missed large portions
of the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons due to jaw and leg injuries.

Gillies, 26, spent last season with Hartford of the American
Hockey League, recording two assists and a club-high 277 penalty
minutes in 49 games. The 6-3, 210-pounder also notched 277
penalty minutes with the AHL's Springfield Falcons the previous
season.

Beginning in 1998-99 with Oshawa of the Ontario Hockey League,
Gillies has collected at least 200 penalty minutes in seven
consecutive seasons.